ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Lehigh swimming and diving teams had their first look at the Patriot League on Saturday afternoon, competing against Colgate and Navy at Lejeune Hall. The Mountain Hawk men picked up their first win of the season, downing Colgate 193-98. Lehigh’s women battled hard against the second and third place teams from last year’s Patriot League Championships, but fell to the Raiders 200-99 and to the Midshipmen 209-86. Navy’s men did not compete at this meet.
The Lehigh men won 14 of 16 events and several Mountain Hawks enjoyed multiple event wins on the afternoon. Junior diver Clark Cohen had Lehigh’s top performance, sweeping the one and three meter events. Cohen’s score of 279.25 broke the school record over 276.30 previously set by Kevin Murphy in 1994.
Sophomore Dan Johnson swept the sprint events, taking the 50 free in 24.11; the 100 free in 53.53 and the 200 free in 1:58.75. Freshman Kevin McGrath continued his strong start to the season, with three wins of his own. McGrath took the 800 free in 8:50.71 and came back to win the 200 breast in 2:31.35 and the 200 IM in 2:14.36. Lehigh swimmers took the top four spots in the 800 free with juniors Jonathan Kearney, Gene Johnston and Dan Bennett finishing second through fourth respectively.
Kearney added two wins to his second place finish, taking the 400 free in 4:19.28 and the 200 fly in 2:12.09. Senior tri-captain Tom Gilbert won both backstroke events, while fellow tri-captain Sean English, won the 100 breast in 1:09.21.
Gilbert, English, Johnson and freshman Ben Dearden combined to win the 200 medley relay in 1:48.69
On the women’s side, Lehigh could only muster one race win against the two tough league rivals. Sophomore Melanie Rolish was the Mountain Hawks’ lone event winner, taking the 200 IM in 2:26.04. Rolish also placed second in the 200 breast and third in the 100 breast. Her sister Allison, a freshman, finished second in both distance races earning a time of 4:33.04 in the 400 free and 9:13.88 in the 800 free.
Freshman Laura Eull was Lehigh’s top finisher in both backstroke events, taking seventh in the 100 and fourth in the 200.
Lehigh will be back in the pool next Saturday, when the Mountain Hawks travel to Lawrenceville, N.J. for a tri-meet with Penn and Rider. Action gets underway at 10:30 am.